Neighborhood Watch 91401

Blog Archive from old, original Neighborhood Watch 91401 site:

Block Party!!!!!
Sunday, November 16th 2008 12pm-4pm Costello Avenue between Cumpston Street and Albers Street

Our Officer for Our Chandler Estates Area
defined by Chandler, Burbank, Hazeltine and Woodman is Officer Lucas Hamilton – “Hamilton”. Officer Hamilton’s Phone Number is 818.731.2562 – Leave Your Name, Number and BRIEF Message and he will return your call – these would be Non-Emergency Issues – Call 911 for Emergency Issues. Officer Hamilton’s email address is 35852@lapd.lacity.org. Information/Statistics on Crimes for Our Area can be found at www.LAPDOnline.Org click on “E-Policing” (or use this link http://www.lapdonline.org/e_policing) go to CrimeMapping.com, put in your address and crimes interested in (click on them), and indicate radius and information from the past number of days. Non-Emergency issues: 1-877-ASK-LAPD, 3-1-1, or Officer Hamilton (leave a message or send an email).

Notes from 8/23/08 Neighborhood Watch Meeting at Church of the Chimes
Officer Hamilton gave an update on our area. Crime was down. Officer Hamilton has about 100 emails for our area of about 200 homes. Officer Hamilton stressed the importance of not only having your email address, but your name, address, and phone number. Please contact Risa Bastien to update your information or have your information updated.

Neighborhood Watch signs came up as an issue. We will be added to the list for the next round of Purchases by Counsel Woman Wendy Gruel’s Office. There are rules for the signs which can be found on-line at www.LAPDonline.org

There was discussion regarding a Lawn Mower and Rototiller stolen from the front yard of a home on Cantaloupe. The crime was not reported. Officer Hamilton discussed the importance of reporting all crimes – this will help to determine if there is a pattern of crimes in our area. It will also be reported and updated on-line for us to see.

There was discussion of a new streetlight for the area Albers/Cantaloupe/Ranchito.

For updates from www.LAPDonline.org – simply go to the E-Policing area and sign up it’s that simple.

Tip: Park your car in your driveway (vs. the street) – this reduces your likelihood of being broken into by 70%.

Report abandoned homes to Officer Hamilton.

Officer Hamilton’s Phone Number is 818.731.2562 – Leave Your Name, Number and BRIEF Message and he will return your call – these would be Non-Emergency Issues – Call 911 for Emergency Issues. Officer Hamilton’s email address is 35852@lapd.lacity.org

Since the last meeting in April, there have been a few home break-ins, and a few cars broken into. But crime is down in our area. You can get an update on line by going to CrimeMapping.com - put in your address, radius, time period.

City issues (graffiti, trash, abandoned homes and cars, etc.) call 3-1-1 – also let Officer Hamilton know about abandoned cars & homes.

Lexi Richards (Lexi.Richards@lacity.org) was at the meeting on behalf of Wendy Gruel’s office. Any assistance with 3-1-1 please email Lexi.

Risa Bastien mentioned the Block Party – she is working on it.

Car Lunches. Please let Risa know if you would like to host a car lunch or night time smack/coffee for our officers.

Graffiti
So why is it so important to remove graffiti? Does it really hurt anyone? The answer is YES. Graffiti, whether “gang-related” or “generic”, has a negative effect on a resident’s feeling of safety in their neighborhood. It creates a perception (whether factual or not) that crime is on the rise and gangs are moving into the area. When graffiti appears and is left up indefinitely, it sends a signal that people just don’t care, which in turn attracts other forms of crime and delinquency to the neighborhood. In addition, if the graffiti is gang related, it may signify that a particular gang has “claimed” that area as their turf. Often times, this gang graffiti is then crossed out by a rival gang who then puts their gang’s tags over it. This can cause friction between gangs and an increase in gang violence.

What Can We Do?
Residents may complete the GRAFFITI REMOVAL REQUEST FORM or call the City of Los Angeles Graffiti Removal Hotline, (800) 611-CITY, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to report graffiti on public property, or their own privately owned property.

What if the graffiti comes back?
Simply call the Graffiti Removal Hotline, (800) 611-CITY, and request that the graffiti be removed again. However, if a location is frequently targeted by taggers, Operation Clean Sweep encourages property owners or local residents to remove the graffiti themselves as soon as it appears. This is much more effective than continually calling the hotline to request service since the graffiti will remain for several days prior to removal, possibly attracting more graffiti. Operation Clean Sweep will provide paint, rollers and other supplies to persons interested in removing graffiti themselves.What Can We Do? Residents may complete the GRAFFITI REMOVAL REQUEST FORM at or call the City of Los Angeles Graffiti Removal Hotline, (800) 611-CITY, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to report graffiti on public property, or their own privately owned property. What if the graffiti comes back? Simply call the Graffiti Removal Hotline, (800) 611-CITY, and request that the graffiti be removed again. However, if a location is frequently targeted by taggers, Operation Clean Sweep encourages property owners or local residents to remove the graffiti themselves as soon as it appears. This is much more effective than continually calling the hotline to request service since the graffiti will remain for several days prior to removal, possibly attracting more graffiti. Operation Clean Sweep will provide paint, rollers and other supplies to persons interested in removing graffiti themselves.